Trust Begins Takeover Negotiations With Chairman
By Deadly Submarine
October 27 2011
The Tranmere Rovers Trust have announced that they are to begin negotiations with current Chairman Peter Johnson regarding a takeover of the Club after raising over £200,000 from the fans scheme...........
After their recent campaign to raise £300,000 from supporters and local businesses in order to start negotiations towards a takeover of the Club from Chairman Peter Johnson, the Tranmere Rovers Trust have this morning confirmed that they will be entering into discussions with Mr Johnson after raising the sufficent amount required.
In a press statement this morning The Trust said that it is now entering an important stage in its plan to purchase a controlling interest in Tranmere Rovers and the recent fundraising campaign has raised £200,000 in cash and pledges, enabling negotiations with majority shareholder Peter Johnson to move to a more formal
footing.
Speaking of the negotiations, Trust Chairman Ben Harrison said:
“We are delighted with the money we got in. We realise that raising money for a buyout when there is no crisis or emergency at the club is difficult, particularly in the current financial climate.”
“We set ourselves a target of £300,000 which was very ambitious but £200,000 is above where we needed to be and we are able to continue the process of negotiations with Peter Johnson.”
“We would like to thank all those supporters and local businesses that have signed up to the scheme. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from supporters all over the world. It is clear that there is a real appetite for the idea of community ownership at Tranmere Rovers.”
“We will obviously be in a stronger position if we can raise further funds and we would welcome further donations from supporters and local businesses if they wish to support the scheme.”
The Trust is continuing with negotiations with Johnson while both parties await the outcome of the planning committee decision on the redevelopment of the Ingleborough road playing fields and the linked development at Woodchurch. The planning committee meeting has been put back to 15th November 2011.
Ben Harrison added:
“The Ingleborough planning application remains the single most important stage in the Trust’s plans to move the club into community ownership. Hopefully the planning application will be accepted and we can all move on to more detailed negotiations.”
The Trust has backed the planning application with an official letter of support to the planning officer and has also helped collect signatures on a petition of support for the development.
Full details of the fundraising scheme and how supporters can help are available on the Trust’ website www.tranmereroverstrust.co.uk or by e-mailing info@tranmereroverstrust.co.uk
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